Failing students should repeat the last year of primary school, Tory leader David Cameron has proposed.
Failing students should repeat the last year of primary school, Tory leader David Cameron has proposed.
He said the move could form part of a "genuine schools revolution" improving literacy, numeracy and discipline.
He said the move could form part of a "genuine schools revolution" improving literacy, numeracy and discipline.
Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Cameron calls for extra cash for heads if they take on disadvantaged pupils.
Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Cameron calls for extra cash for heads if they take on disadvantaged pupils.
But a government spokeswoman said his claim that 43% of children leave primary school unable to read, write and count properly was "quite wrong".
But a government spokeswoman said his claim that 43% of children leave primary school unable to read, write and count properly was "quite wrong".
The Tory leader's intervention came as Schools Secretary Ed Balls urged schools to concentrate on the basics. He admitted government reforms had "not delivered for every child".
The Tory leader's intervention came as Schools Secretary Ed Balls urged schools to concentrate on the basics. He admitted government reforms had "not delivered for every child".
Mr Cameron's proposals suggest the worst performers in year six will have to either catch up at summer classes or repeat the entire academic year.
Mr Cameron's proposals suggest the worst performers in year six will have to either catch up at summer classes or repeat the entire academic year.
He promised to "look carefully" at the measure, which is one of a host of proposals to be presented this week by the Tories' Public Services Improvement Policy Group.
He promised to "look carefully" at the measure, which is one of a host of proposals to be presented this week by the Tories' Public Services Improvement Policy Group.
'Zero-tolerance'
'Zero-tolerance'
Re-sitting an academic year is already used in the US and some European countries.
Re-sitting an academic year is already used in the US and some European countries.
Shadow Schools Secretary Michael Gove said it did work in other countries. "It has ensured that levels of attainment in those basic skills - reading, writing and adding up - has improved."
Shadow schools secretary Michael Gove said it did work in other countries. "It has ensured that levels of attainment in those basic skills - reading, writing and adding up - has improved."
But Jean Milham, head teacher of Morningside Primary School in Hackney, east London, told BBC Radio Five Live that the idea would mean children were branded as failures.
But Jean Milham, head teacher of Morningside Primary School in Hackney, east London, told BBC Radio Five Live that the idea would mean children were branded as failures.
"Some of these children have got very special needs and they will never attain," she said.
"Some of these children have got very special needs and they will never attain," she said.
"So what are we going to do? Keep young children in a primary school for the rest of their school life?"
"So what are we going to do? Keep young children in a primary school for the rest of their school life?"
And the General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, Mick Brookes, said the idea was flawed: "If you have 20% of children who are not reaching level 4 standards in primary schools, there would have to be a massive building programme to accommodate these children."
And the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, Mick Brookes, said the idea was flawed: "If you have 20% of children who are not reaching level 4 standards in primary schools, there would have to be a massive building programme to accommodate these children."
In his article, Mr Cameron said he wanted to give City Academies - which some believe Gordon Brown is preparing to scale down - greater freedom to improve.
In his article, Mr Cameron said he wanted to give city academies - which some believe Gordon Brown is preparing to scale down - greater freedom to improve.
And he wanted to free teachers from being "glorified form-fillers", he said.
And he wanted to free teachers from being "glorified form-fillers", he said.
My message to teachers is I'm going to back you to do more to support the personal development of every child Schools Secretary Ed Balls
My message to teachers is I'm going to back you to do more to support the personal development of every child Schools Secretary Ed Balls
He said that under a Conservative government no more special schools would be closed down, and also promised "zero tolerance" of disruptive pupils.
He said that under a Conservative government no more special schools would be closed down, and also promised "zero tolerance" of disruptive pupils.
He has already said schools should have the final say on whether pupils should be expelled, not local educational authorities.
He has already said schools should have the final say on whether pupils should be expelled, not local educational authorities.
A spokeswoman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families strongly denied Mr Cameron's claim that many primary school leavers could not read or write properly.
A spokeswoman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families strongly denied Mr Cameron's claim that many primary school leavers could not read or write properly.
She said: "It is quite wrong to suggest that a child not achieving level 4 'cannot read' or has 'failed the three Rs'.
She said: "It is quite wrong to suggest that a child not achieving level 4 'cannot read' or has 'failed the three Rs'.
"Level 3 in the national curriculum is the standard at which children have effective English and maths skills."
"Level 3 in the national curriculum is the standard at which children have effective English and maths skills."
'Back to basics'
'Back to basics'
Meanwhile, Schools Secretary Ed Balls admitted reforms were "not delivering for every child".
Meanwhile, Schools Secretary Ed Balls admitted reforms were "not delivering for every child".
He told GMTV's Sunday Programme he would be writing to every headteacher in England to congratulate them on the results, but to say it was not enough.
He told GMTV's Sunday Programme he would be writing to every headteacher in England to congratulate them on the results, but to say it was not enough.
"We must give a world-class education to every child in this country," he said.
"We must give a world-class education to every child in this country," he said.
"My message to teachers is I'm going to back you to do more to support the personal development of every child."
"My message to teachers is I'm going to back you to do more to support the personal development of every child."
He said it was about "back to basics, standards in the classroom and not structural change".
He said it was about "back to basics, standards in the classroom and not structural change".
And he would back teachers and heads so that they had the power to enforce discipline.
And he would back teachers and heads so that they had the power to enforce discipline.
In a separate initiative at the start of the new school year, Mr Balls announced a £150m fund for building new kitchens in schools.
In a separate initiative at the start of the new school year, Mr Balls announced a £150m fund for building new kitchens in schools.
What do you think of these proposals? Are you a primary school teacher? Do you have children of primary school age? Send us your comments using the form below. Please include a telephone number if you don't mind us contacting you.
What do you think of these proposals? Are you a primary school teacher? Do you have children of primary school age? Send us your comments using the form below. Please include a telephone number if you don't mind us contacting you.
